Since its launch in 2020, Eurofound's unique Living and Working in the EU e-survey has provided an overview of the ever-changing developments in living and working since the onset of the pandemic, through the recovery measures and during a time of constant change.
Living and Working in the EU e-survey 2025
In its eighth edition of the large-scale Living and Working in the EU online survey, Eurofound continues on from previous rounds to look at subjective and mental well-being, health and access to healthcare, work–life balance and telework, quality of society and trust, housing and financial situation, as well as sociodemographic background and household situation. In addition, this round puts a particular focus on climate and environment, and includes questions about people's experiences of climate impacts, concerns about future risks and preparedness measures undertaken or observed in their local communities.
Since 2020, Eurofound has conducted the e-survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's living and working conditions across the European Union. From 2022 onwards, the thematic scope of the e-survey has broadened to measure the long-term consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living.
Round 8: In collaboration with the European Environment Agency(opens in new tab)This link opens in a new tab, this e-survey round includes a special module on the green transition: behaviours, support for policies and experiences of climate change events.
Launched from 1 April to 4 June 2025
27,200 respondents aged 16+ in the EU27 Member States
E-survey among panellists and advertised on social media
Questionnaire comprised 160 questions, available in 25 languages
Economic strain has increased across all age groups in the past five years, with the highest levels found among middle-aged respondents. Income inequality is exacerbating financial hardship: in 2025, 61% of respondents in low-income households struggled to make ends meet, compared with 9% of those in high-income households.
Housing insecurity is increasing, driven by cost-of-living pressures, and is disproportionately affecting renters in the private rental sector.
Optimism about the future has declined across all age groups and has not recovered since a significant drop in 2022, likely owing to the ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Mental well-being remains low: WHO-5 scores have declined since 2020 and more than half of respondents (57%) in 2025 are at risk of depression, indicating potential persistent stress at a societal level.
Preferences for regular telework have increased, with around half of men and women wishing to work from home several times a week. Respondents who would like to telework but cannot report the highest levels of fatigue and work–family conflict.
Respondents aged 35–49 and 50–64 show the lowest trust in institutions and indicate the highest levels of financial difficulty, suggesting a potential link between economic stress and weakening confidence in institutions. Trust in institutions is consistently lower among low-income respondents.
Concern about the environment rises with the number of impacts experienced. The oldest and youngest respondents are both concerned about environmental issues, challenging views that only young people worry about climate change.
19 January 2026
2 October 2025
This section provides further information targeted in particular at researchers.
Methodology
The e-survey methodology is similar for all rounds of the survey.
Eurofound experts
You can contact the following experts for questions on the survey.
Eszter Sándor
Senior research managerEszter Sandor yra EUROFOUND Socialinės politikos skyriaus vyresnysis tyrimų vadovas. Ji turi patirties apklausų metodikos ir statistinės analizės srityje, dirbo rengiant ir valdant Europos gyvenimo kokybės tyrimą ir neseniai Gyvenimo, darbo ir COVID-19 e. apklausą ir yra atsakinga už duomenų rinkinių kokybę. Jos tyrimų sritys yra jaunimo gerovė ir gyvenimo kokybė namų ūkiuose ir šeimose, įskaitant subjektyvią gerovę, darbo ir asmeninio gyvenimo pusiausvyrą bei gyvenimo sąlygas. Anksčiau ji dirbo ekonomikos konsultante Škotijoje, daugiausia dėmesio skirdama ekonominio poveikio vertinimams, vertinimams ir sąnaudų ir produkcijos analizei. Ji yra įgijusi ekonomikos ir tarptautinių santykių magistro laipsnį Budapešto Corvinus universitete.
Daphne Ahrendt
Senior research managerDaphne Ahrendt yra EUROFOUND Socialinės politikos skyriaus vyresnioji mokslinių tyrimų vadovė. Nuo tada, kai 2013 m. prisijungė prie Eurofound, ji dirbo įvairiose socialinės politikos srityse. Šiuo metu ji koordinuoja EUROFOUND tyrimų valdymo ir plėtojimo veiklą ir vadovauja COVID-19 e. apklausų rengimui ir analizei. Daphne turi daugiau nei 20 metų tarptautinių tyrimų tyrėjos patirtį, anksčiau dirbusi Europos Komisijos "Eurobarometro" skyriuje ir Nacionaliniame socialinių tyrimų centre Londone, kur dirbo Tarptautinių socialinių tyrimų programoje. Daphne yra įgijusi baudžiamosios justicijos politikos magistro laipsnį Londono ekonomikos mokykloje ir politikos mokslų bakalauro laipsnį San Francisko valstijos universitete.
